The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-11-23
Ar THE ELEyENTH HOUR.

/ Al = "A II EsLEV 1sNIH hONlkS.
They had once been plighted low
ers, and for each the whole world
iheld but the other for brief sum
mer time of bliss; then had come
1.-THE quarrel, the broken troth, the
exchange of gifts and letters. the
aching heart in King Burdo's bosom
and the hurt, resentful one in Inez
Campbell's.
True, she had not been in fault,
and he had censured her nndeserv-
edly but month went by without
his asking PARDON, and then Gale
Monroe offered her his heart and
hand.
The heart was as dry as the leaves
Ilof autumn, hard as the gold it cher
ished, withered by 64 years of sell
fish life; but the hand heidsao lnllchB
which she might share that she laid
her own within it, and only realized
how utterly she had wrecked her
youth and shut out all hope from
her life when she found herself mar
ried to the rich old man, who thought
his gold had bought her.
Six months after, and she met
King Burdo; she found him changed.
grave. scornful; and then-when it
was too late-one night at ball,
the past was spoken of between
them, and the mistake that had
parted them was explained
His face grew ashen as he lis
tened. hers full of pain as Keen as
death, and both knew that the old
love had not died, would not die.
like Gagged lion, would rend their
souls forever.
No word an angel might not hear
was spoken, but Gale Monroe. open
ing on them alone and seeing that
there were tears on the white cheeks
of his wife, drew her roughly to his
carriage, and she was seen at bali or
revel no more; and it was whispered
that the old man never allowed his
young wife to go beyond his own
grounds unless he was with her.
a month went by, another and
another, King Burdo had obtained
an appointment abroad and was
about to cross the ocean.
81 will never set foot on Ameri-
can soil again" he said to himself,
"but l cannot, will not, go without
bidding her good-by, though a
dozen jealous graybeards We're her
iailers. Twill say no word of love
to her, but for one moment she shall
lay her hand in mine and bid me
godspeed, as a sister might.
So he stole into her husbands
grounds and watched for her two
days without success; on the third.
as the sunset glory was cast in a
flood about him, he saw her walking
slowly toward him through the
trees.
Her dress was white, but winter
her beautiful face; great circles
gloomcd the tender eyes which had
so often met his glance of love, a
world of sadness seemed to dwell in
the curves of her lips as she ad-
vanced with languid step through
the sunset.
The old love, augmented by pity,
rushed over him like wave. He
forgot that she was another SHAT
by her own act they were parted
forever. With low cry of pain he
started forward and flung himself on
his knees at her feet.
.'Inez, Inez, my love, you are dy-
ing" he burst out as she, with a
start and an inarticulate cry, put
out both hands and clung to his,
'tyou have suffered since | saw you
last; you are like death"
She looked down at him with eyes
of wordless misery, but misery that
had chilled her life.
81 am going mad, / think, she
said slowly, as she drew her hands
from his and put one to her bosom,
one to her brow "Another month
of this life l am leading and either
heart or brain will give way. Why
have you come here2 You cannot
aid me. To-day he struck me, 1 am
used to curses, but not yet to blows;
Look"
She pushed up her loose sleeve
and showed him long, dark bruise
on her arm from elbow to shoulder.
His head fell forward, his teeth
set hard. This was the woman he
loved; who, but for a foolish quarrel,
would have been his wife.
/ Tn the finch of the snnsa+ in thc